Carding machine attachment



April 26, 1949 R. H. voN LIEDTKE 2,468,279

CARDING MACHINE ATTAHMENT INVENTOR RUDOLPHH. von LIEDTK;

ATTORNEYS iR. H. VON LlED'rKE CARDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT April 26, 1949.

6 Sheets-Sheevl 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1946 mvNToR RUDOLPHHNON LlED TKE s Y. E N R O T T A April 26, 1949. R. H. voN I IEDTKE CARDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 18, 1946 INVENTOR RUDOLPH H.VON LIEDTKE ATTORNEYS Ap 26, 1949. R. H. voN LIEDTKE CARDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT e sheets-sheet 4 Filed Feb. 18, 1946 INVENTOR RUDOLPH H.VON LIEDTKE ATTORNEYS -April 26, 1949. R. H. voN LIEDTKE CARDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 18, 1946.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS a 7 Irl l.

April 26, 1949.

Filed Feb 18, 1946 R. H. voN LIEDTKE CARDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVNTOR RUDOLPH H.voN LIEDTKE ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 26, 1949 CARDIN G MACHINE ATTACHMENT Rudolph H. von Liedtke, West Bend, Wis., as-

signor to General Electronic & Manufacturing Co. of America, West Bend, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 18, 1946, Serial No. 648,417

9 Claims.

This invention appertains to a machine for facilitating the removing of foreign matter from a woolen web and more particularly to a machine embodying novelly arranged rolls for crushing foreign particles in the web, whereby such foreign particles will be reduced to a powder and fall from the web, leaving the web substantially in a clean, pure condition.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a lower main crushing roll of a relatively large diameter over which the web travels and a pair of spaced upper crushing rolls for engaging the web at spaced points, the lower roll being self-centering between the upper rolls and urged forcibly toward the upper rolls, whereby the web will be subjected to a powerful crushing rolling action at spaced points for bringing about the thorough and effective crushing of all impurities in the web. such as burrs, cotton and silk threads, particles of wood, tar, etc.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a novel slide mounting for the bearings of the lower roll, whereby said roll is free to move in a vertical plane toward the spaced upper rolls and capable of a limited shifting movement between the upper rolls wherebyrsaid lower main roll will be properly centered at all times between the upper rolls.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means arranged between the upper crushing rolls for holding the web down against the upper roll and for preventing the web from following the rst upper roll, said means also functioning to slightly displace the web laterally as the same leaves the tlrst upper roll so as to insure the proper engagement of the second upper crushing roll with the web and thereby bring about the desired crushing actionbetween the second upper roll and the lower roll.

v A further important object of my invention is to provide a crushing machine particularly designed to fit between a pair of wool carding machines, with means whereby free access can be had to the crushing machine without the necessity of shifting the crushing machine relative to the carding machines. A

A still further object of my invention is to provide novel means for supporting the web conveyors at the. front and rear of the crushing machine whereby the conveyors can be quickly and correctly adjusted relative to the card rolls and the crushing rolls and whereby the conveyors can be swung to an inoperative, out-of-the-way position'permitting workmen to have free access between the carding machines and the crushing machine.

A still further object of my invention is to provide novel means for resiliently supporting the bearings of the main lower crushing roll with means for simultaneously adjusting the tension of the springs and for indicating to the operator the amount of the adjustment whereby the crushing action between the lower roll and the spaced upper rolls can-be accurately regulated.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means arranged at appropriate points relative to the crushing rolls for cleaning the crushing rolls and for preventing the web from clinging to the crushing rolls.

A still further important `object of my invention is to provide magnetic means carried by the front conveyor which leads into the crushing machine for removing all metal foreign particles from the web, so that such particles will be removed from the web before the web reaches the crushing rolls. l*

A still further important object of my invention is to provide novel means for driving all .of the rolls relative to one another at predetermined rates of speed, so as to effectively break up the static electricity developed during the operation of the machine and thereby lessen the likelihood of the-web following the contour of the rolls.

A still further object of my invention is to provide novel means for constructing` the frame of 'my crushing machine for mounting the various rolls on the frame, whereby a simple, strong, rugged machine will -be had which will perform its desired function in an eilicient manner.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating one preferred form of my machine, with parts thereof broken away and in sectionto illustrate structural detail, the machine being shown-in its operative position relative to a pair of wool carding machines, only a fragment of such cardingr machines being shown.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of my machine per se and illustrating the opposite side thereof from that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the machine, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the machine taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, lookingr in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the novel spring mounting for the bearings of the main lower roll.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the machine substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction ofthe arrows. y

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail horizontal sectional view illustrating the use of a reciprocating brush for one of the upper rolls and one form of means which can be utilized for operating the brush.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view through the machine similar to Figure 4 but illustrating my novel mechanism for bringing about the simultaneous adjustment for the tension of the springs employed for supporting the opposite ends of the main crushing roll, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail plan view illustrating one form of a magnetic means which I can utilize for removing steeland like metal particles frpm the web.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C generally indicates one form of my novel crushing machine and, as clearly shown in Figure l, the same is adapted to be disposed between a.

pair of wool carding machines M and W.

The wool carding machines M and W are of a type now found in woolen mills and will not be described in detail, but as illustrated, the first carding machine M includes a frame I0 having rotatably mounted thereon the doifer roll I I. In accordance with my invention, the shaft I2 for such doffer roll can have keyed or otherwise secured theretoi. drive sprocket gear I3 of the desired diameter, the purpose of which will be later described.

The second carding machine W also includes a i'ranie I4 having rotatably mounted thereon a cylinder roll I5. This machine can also be pro-1.

vided with a tumbler roll (not shown) for facilitating the guiding of the web onto said cylinder roll.

My improved crushing machine C includes a pair of like side frames I6 and I1, arranged in transverse alignment and each of these frames include a pair of spaced parallel transversely aligned side plates I8 and I9. The lower ends of these plates are rmly bolted, as at 20, or otherwise united to base floor beams 2l and these base floor beams 2I can be in turn rigidly bolted to the floor of the mill and any gther desired support. Each of the side frames I6 and I1 also include an upper supporting head 22 and each head is received between its side plates I8 and I9 and is firmly secured to the side plates by bolts 23 or by any other preferred means. It is to be noted that the heads project forwardly and rearwardly from the side plates I8 and I9.

Arranged between the side frames I6 and I1 is a lower main crushing roll or cylinder 2.4.. This main roll is of a relatively large diameter and is 75 formed from hardened material and the periphery of the roll is preferably polished.

This lower crushing roll 24 is supported on an axial shaft 25, the terminals of which slidably extend through slots 26 formed in the side plates I8 and I9 of the frames. This shaft is supported in suitable roller or ball bearings 21 carried by sliding bearing blocks 28 and 29. These bearing blocks are mounted in the side frames I6 and I1 between the plates I8 and I9 and these bearing blocks have formed on their opposite sides vertically disposed slide sleeves 30. The slide sleeves 30 are slidably mounted on upright bearing standards 3l and these standards have their opposite ends rigidly secured to the base floor beams 2| and the top heads 22. The sleeves are of a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the standards 3| whereby the sleeves and consequently the bearing blocks and the roll 24 can shift laterally on said standards. The purpose of this will be later set forth.

Arranged above the lower main crushing roll 24 is a pair ofspaced upper crushing rolls 32 and 33. These rolls are of a less diameter than the main roll 24 and each of the upper rolls 32 and 33 is formed from hard polished metal. Shafts 34 and 35 are provided respectively for the rolls 32 and 33, and these shafts are journaled in suitable bearings 36 carried by the head blocks 22. As is clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the upper rolls are arranged off the vertical center of the machine, and consequently the roll 32 engages the lower roll on one side of its vertical diameter and the roll 33 engages the lower roll on the opposite side of its vertical diameter.

The lower main roll 24 is normally urged into crushing engagement with the rolls 32 and 33 by heavy expansion coil springs 31 and these springs are disposed within the frames I6 and I1. The floor base beams 2I can be provided with bosses 38 for receiving the lower ends of the springs and the upper ends of the springs are tted around bosses 39, formed on the heads 40 of adjusting screws 4I. The upper ends of the springs 31 bear against the heads 40 of the adjusting screws and the shanks 42 of theadjusting screws are threaded into the lower ends of the sliding bearing blocks 28 and 29. By turning the screws 4I, the tension of the springs 31 can be adjusted so that the lower roll will bear against the pair of upper rolls with desired force. Openings 43 can be provided in the heads of the screws so as to facilitate the turning and adjusting thereof and means can be provided for indicating the amount of rotation of the screws, if so desired. It is to be noted that the outer plates I8 of the frames I6 and I1 are provided with openings 44 whereby access to the screws can be had and whereby the screws will be visible to the attendant of the machine.

From the description so far, it can be seen that the lower roll is forcibly urged between the pair of upper rolls 32 and 33 and into intimate contact therewith and due to the sloppy t of the bearing sleeves 30 on the standards 3|, the roll 24 can slightly shift and center itself at all times between said upper rolls.

As heretofore brought out, the machine C is located between a pair of carding machines M and W and theY crushing mahine C is adapted to receive the web from the doffer roll II of the machine and the web rides over the upper surface of the roll 24 and under the rolls 32 and 33. When the web leavesthe crushing machine C, the same is delivered to the carding machine W. I provide an endless conveyor 45 for carrying the a web from the carding machine and to the crushing machine C and I provide a similar conveyor 46 for carrying the web from the machine C to the cardine machine W.

'I'he endless conveyors 4 5 and 46 each include an endless belt 4l preferably formed from connected slats 48 and this belt travels over inner and outer rollers 48 and 5I). The rollers are journaled in suitable bearings carried by side frame plates 5I. The inner ends of the frame plates can be pivotally supported upon ears 52 formed on or carried by the head blocks 22. Particular attention is called to the fact that the inner ends of the conveyors 45 and 46 are supported in such a manner from the head blocks that the same will not contact the lower roll 24 and hence will not interfere withthe proper operation of this roll.

'I'he outer ends of the conveyors 45 and 48 are supported in a novel manner whereby these conveyors can be adjusted up and down and whereby the conveyors can be lowered to an inoperative. out-of-the-way position so that free access can be had between the carding machine M and the crushing machine C and between the crushing machine C and the carding machine W. The means for adjustably supporting the outer ends of the conveyors each include arms 53 and each of the arms consist of a lower at link 54. The lower ends of all the links are pivotally connected, as at 55, to ears 56 carried by the desired plates of the side frames I6 and I1 of the machine C. The upper ends of the links 54 have formed thereon laterally extending ilat stop lugs 5", for a purpose, which willY be later set forth. Pivotally and slidably connected to the upper ends of the links 54 are turnbuckles 58 and the upper ends of the turnbuckles are provided with eyes 58 which are journaled on the shaft for the outer roller 50. By turning the nuts 60 of the turnbuckles, the active lengths of the arms 53 can be regulated so as to adjust the position of the conveyors relative to the cardng machines M and W. Referring to the sliding .and pivotal connections of the turnbuckles 58 with the links 54, it will be noted that the lower ends of the turnbuckles are provided with slots 6I through which extend pins 62 carried by the links 54.

It is merely necessary to pull up on the outer ends of the conveyors, and break the arms when it is desired to lower the outer ends of the conveyors. By raising up on the outer ends of the conveyors, the lower ends of the turnbuckles are moved away from the flat lugs 51 and consequently the lower ends of the turnbuckles can swing on the pins 62.

During the passage of the web through the crushing machine C, there is a tendency for the web to follow the periphery of the crushing roll 32, and I provide novel means for preventing this tendency. This means vincludes a transversely extending roll 63 arranged above the lower roll 24 and directly between the upper crushing rolls 32 and 33. This roll 63 is preferably out of contact with all of the rolls so as not to interfere with the proper direction of rotation of these rolls. However, it is to be understood that this roll 63 is in close' proximity to all of the crushing rolls. This roll 63 is mounted upon a shaft 64 and the shaft extends through vertical slots 65 formed in the head plates 22 and the frame plates I8 and I9. The shaft is journaled in suitable bearing blocks 66 and these bearing blocks are mounted within the slots formed in the head blocks. EX- pansion springs 61 are fitted within the head blocks and engage the bearing blocks 66 and nor- 3, I provide a brush 88 for the roll 32, a brush 'I0 for the roll 33 and a pair of brushes 1I and 'I2 for the lower main crushing roll 24. These brushes are all shown to be of the rotary type in Figures l, 2, 3 and 5, but I can provide other types of brushes, as will be later set forth.`

The brush 58 engages the periphery of its roll 32 directly above'the conveyor 45 and this brush includes a shaft 'I3 which is journaled in bearings carried by the head blocks 22. The brush 10 engages the periphery of its roll 33 directly above the conveyor 46 and includes a shaft 14 journaled at the head blocks 22. 1

The brushes 1I and 'I2 for the lower main roll engage the opposite sides thereof below the conveyors and the brushes 1I and l2, are provided respectively with shafts 'I5 and 'I6 which are journaled in the side frame plates I8 and I9 of the side frames I6 and I1. These brushes ro- -tating against the periphery of the rolls eIIectively carry and brush o lint and the like adhering to said rolls.

In order to prevent the carrying of the web around the crushing roll 33 and to insure the holding o f the web down on the conveyor 46, I employ a transversely extending roll 11. This roll I1 includes a shaft 18 which is journaled in the side frames I5 and Il, and this roll is located adjacent to the lower end of the crushing roll 33 and in close proximity to the conveyor 46.

One of the important features of my invention is to provide a simplified means for driving all of the crushing rolls, brushes, and hold-down rolls relative to one another and in the .proper directions and at the desired speeds. By synchronizing the speeds of the various rotating parts relative to one another and to the speed of the rolls and cylinders of the carding machines, I am enabled to break up the formation of static electricity to a large extent and consequently this reduces the tendency of the web to follow and cling to the peripheries of the crushing rolls. If desired, I can provide a separate motor for driving the various elements of my crushing machine, but I prefer to drive the same directly from the doffer roll II of the earding-machine M. To bring this about, I key, or otherwise secure a sprocket wheel 'I9 to the'shaft 25 of the main crushing roll 24. This sprocket Wheel 'I9 is substantially of the same diameter as the sprocket wheel I3 keyed to the shaft of the doier roll and the sprocket wheels I3 and 19 are operatively connected together by a sprocket chain 80. Obviously, equivalent means can be provided for driving the shaft 25 from the shaft I2. Due to the intimate contact of the upper crushing rolls 32 and 33 with rthe lower crushing roll 24, these rolls will be driven therefrom.

To bring about the proper operation of the conveyor belts 45 and 46, I key, or otherwise secure to the shaft 25, a pair of V shaped pulley wheels 8|l and 82 and these pulley wheels are secured to the opposite end of the shaft from the sprocket wheel 19. The shafts of the inner conveyor rollers 48 have keyed or otherwise secured thereto, the .pulley wheels 83 and 84. The pulley wheels 8| and 83 are operatively connected by a V pulley belt 85 and a similar pulley belt 86 is employed for connecting the pulley wheels 82 and 84 together.

The brush 69 can be driven from the inner conveyor roller of the conveyor 45 and consequently the shaft of this inner conveyor roller can have keyed, or otherwise secured thereto, a pulley wheel 81. This pulley wheel is connected by a cross belt 88 with a pulley wheel 89 secured to the shaft 13 of the brush 69. The main holddown roll 63 is driven from the brush 69 and consequently the shaft of this brush also has keyed thereto a pulley wheel 90. The pulley wheel 90 drives a pulley belt 9| which is trained about a. pulley wheel 92, keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 64 of the hold-down roll 63. The shaft 64 is employed for driving the cleaning brush 14 and the holddown roll 11, and hence the shaft 64 also has keyed thereto a pulley wheel 93. Pulley wheels 94 and 95 are keyed or otherwise secured respectively to the shafts 14 and 18 of the cleaning brush and the hold-down roll 11. A pulley` belt 96 is trained about the pulley wheels 93. 94 and 95.

The lower cleaning brushes 1| and 12 are operatively connected together and are driven from the inner roller of the conveyor 46. The shaft of the brush 1| has keyed thereto a pulley wheel 91 and the shaft 16 of the brush 12 has keyed thereto a pair of pulley wheels 98. A pulley belt 99 connects the pulley wheel 91 with one pulley wheel 98 and a pulley belt |00 connects the other pulley wheel 98 with a pulley wheel keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft of the inner roller of the conveyor 46.

The arrangement is such that all of the rotating parts are operated from a common drive and at such speeds that any static standing waves will be broken up that may try to form. This is accomplished through the difference in speeds of the various rotating parts. As soon as the rolls are heated or warmed slightly, the static will diminish, but it is at all times present due to the friction that is created through the pressure on the rolls and if no other field is created that will interfere with this static, this static will form a path around the roll and the web will cling to the roll. I

In Figure 6 I have shown one means of utilizing a reciprocating brush |02 for cleaning the crusher roll 32 and if desired, I can utilize reciprocating brushes on all of the crushing rolls in lieu of the rotary brushes shown in the rst form. Any desired means can be employed for reciprocating the brush |02 and as shown in Figure 6, the back |03 of the brush is slidably mounted in guides |04 carried by the side frames I6 and |1 of the machine. The opposite ends of the back can also terminate in pistons |05 and |06. The piston |05 is mounted within a cylinder |01, while the piston |06 is mounted within a cylinder |08. These cylinders are also rigidly secured to the frames I6 and |1. In the cylinder |08 is a spring |09 which functions to normally move the brush to the left (Figure 6). Communicating with the outer end of the cylinder |01 is an air conduit ||0 leading to the outlet of a pressure pump The pressure pump includes a reciprocating piston I2 and its piston rod ||3 carries a roller ||4. This roller ||4 is held in bearing contact against an operating cam ||5 at all times by an expansion spring ||6 bearing against the piston ||2. The cam ||5 is carried by the shaft 34 of the crushing roll 32. Consequently, during the rotation of this roll, the pump will be operated by the cam. On

8 the pressure stroke of the pump, the brush will be moved to the right and on the opposite stroke of the pump, the spring |09 will shift the brush to the left. Consequently, this brush is continuously moved longitudinally of the roll and will effectively remove all matter adhering to the periphery thereof.

In Figure '1, I have illustrated one form of means for simultaneously adjusting the tension of the springs carrying the Ibearing blocks 28 and 29. As illustrated, the side frame plates I6 and |1 carry frame plates ||1 which are rigidly secured to the said side frames. Journaled in these supporting plates ||1, are rotatable feed screws ||8 and I9. The screws are held against longitudinal movement in these plates. Feed nuts |20 and |2| receive respectively the feed screws ||8 and ||9 and the nuts are'held against rotation by the engagement thereof with the side frames. Relatively heavy expansion springs |22 and |23 are carried by the nuts and these springs support the bearing blocks 28 and 29 which carry the main crushing roll. The lower ends of the feed screws' have formed thereon, or secured thereto," worm wheels |24 and |25, and these worm wheels mesh respectively with worms |26 and |21 formed on, or secured to a transversely extending operating shaft |28. This shaft is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings |29 carried by the side frames I6 and |1. One end of the shaft |28 has keyed thereto a sprocket Wheel |30 and this sprocket wheel is operatively connected by a sprocket chain |3| with a sprocket wheel |32 of the same size as the sprocket wheel |30. The sprocket wheel |32 is keyed or otherwise fastened to a feed screw shaft |33, journaled in the upper end of the side frame |6. The screw shaft |33 can be turned by the use of a suitable handle or hand wheel |34.. A traveling nut |35 is threaded on the shaft and carries an indicating pointer |36 for traveling movement over a scale |31.

By turning the hand wheel |34, the shaft |28 can be moved and the turning of this shaft |28 will turn the feed screws 8 and ||9, and consequently vary the distance of the nuts |20 and |2| from the bearing blocks 28 and 29. By turning the shaft |28 in one direction or the other, the tension of the springs can be increased or decreased and the amount of the turning of the shaft will -be indicated by the pointer |36.

Means can also be provided for removing steel and similar metal particles from the web before the web reaches the crushing rolls and in Figure 8 I have illustrated one means for accomplishing this. v As shown in this figure, a bar |38 can be extended across the lead in conveyor 45 and the ends of this bar can be secured to the side frame plates 5| of the conveyor. The bar carries a series of magnets |39 which can be energized from any suitable source of electrical current.

Changes in details can be made'without de. parting from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A machine for removing foreign particles from a woolen or like web, adapted to be positioned between a pair of carding machines, for receiving the web from one carding machine and for delivering the web to the other carding machine, comprising a stationary frame, an upper crushing roll rotatably mounted in said frame, a lower crushing roll rotatably mounted in said frame, the web being adapted to travel between said rolls, a conveyor for conducting the web from one carding machine to the crushing rolls, a second conveyor for receiving the web from the crushing rolls and conducting the web to the second carding machine, and means releasably supporting the outer ends of the conveyors whereby the conveyors can be lowered to an inoperative out-of-the-way position whereby free access can be had between the carding machinesand the particle removing machine, said last named means including toggle links having their oppo site ends pivotally connected respectively to the outer ends of the conveyors and to the frame below the conveyors.

2. A machine for removing foreign particles from a woolen or like web, adapted to be positioned between a pair of carding machines, for receiving the web from one carding machine and for delivering the web to the other carding machine, comprising a stationary frame, an upper crushing roll rotatably mounted in said frame, a lower crushing roll rotatably mounted in said frame, the web being adapted to travel between said rolls, a conveyor for conducting the web from one carding machine to the crushing rolls, a second conveyor for receiving the web from the crushing rolls and conducting the web to the second carding machine, and means releasably supporting the outer ends of the conveyors whereby the conveyors can be lowered to an inoperative out-of-the-way position whereby free access can be had between the carding machines and the particle removing machine, said last named means including toggle links having their opposite ends pivotally connected respectively to the outer ends of the conveyors and to the frame below the conveyors, each of said toggle links including an adjusting device.

3. A machine for removing foreign particles from a woolen or like web, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced upper crushing rolls rotatably carried by the frame, a main crushing roll in said frame, including an axial shaft, bearing blocks for rotatably supporting the shaft, upright guide standards carried by the opposite sides of the frame, means resiliently supporting the bearing blocks and for normally urging the lower roll into engagement with the upper crushing rolls, and bearing sleeves slidably mounted on said guide standards, said guide sleeves having an in- 1 ternal diameter of a greater size than the diameter of the standards whereby limited lateral shifting movement of the bearing blocks can be had so that the resilient supporting means will center said lower crushing roll between the pair of upper crushing rolls. I k

4. A machine for removing foreign particles from a woolen or like web, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced upper crushing rolls rotatably carried by the frame, a main crushing roll in said frame, including an axial. shaft, bearing blocks for rotatably supporting the shaft, upright guide standards carried by the opposite sides of the fra-me, means resiliently supporting the bearing blocks and for normally urging the lower roll into engagement with the upper crushing rolls, and bearing sleeves slidably mounted on said guide standards, said guide sleeves having an internal diameter of a greater size than the diameter of the standards whereby limited lateral shifting movement of the bearing blocks can be had so that the resilient supporting means will center said lower crushing rollbetween the pair of upper crushing rolls, said means for resiliently supporting the bearing blocks including heavy expansion springs, and means for adjusting the.

tension of said springs.

5. A machine for removing foreign particles from a woolen or like web, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced upper crushing rolls rotatably carried by the frame, a main crushing roll in said frame, including an axial shaft, bearing blocks for rotatably supporting the shaft, upright guide standards carried by the opposite sides of the frame, means resiliently supporting the bearing blocks and for normally urging the lower roll into engagement with the upper crushing rolls, and bearing sleeves slidably mounted on said guide standards, said guide sleeves having an internal diameter of a greater size than the diameter ofV the standards whereby limited lateral shifting movement of the bearing blocks can be had so that the resilient supporting means will center said lower crushing roll between the pair of upper crushing rolls, said resilient supporting means including relatively heavy expansion springs, and means for synchronously adjusting the tension of the springs for each bearing block.

6. A machine for crushing foreign particles in a woolen or like web, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced upper crushing rolls, a lower main crushing roll, means resiliently urging the lower crushing roll into crushing contact between and with the upper crushing rolls, means for drivingthe lower roll, a hold-down roll arranged between the upper rolls and in close proximity to the upper rolls, and means for driving the hold-down roll from the lower roll in the same direction of rotation as the upper rolls.

7. A machine for crushing foreign particles in a woolen or like web, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced upper crushing rolls, a lower main crushing roll, means resiliently urging the lower crushingroll into crushing contact between and with the upper crushing rolls, means for driving the lower roll, a hold-down roll arranged between the upper rolls and in close proximity to the upper roll, 'and means for driving the holddown roll from the lower roll in the same direction of rotation as the upper rolls, a cleaning brush for each upper roll, cleaning brushes engaging the opposite sides of the lower roll, and means for operating all of said brushes from the lower roll.

8. A machine for crushing foreign particles in a woolenl or like web, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced upper crushing rolls, a lower main crushing roll, means resiliently urging the lower crushing roll into crushing contact between and with the upper crushing rolls, means for driving the lower roll, a hold-down r'oll arranged between the upper rolls and in close proximity to the upper rolls, means for driving the hold-down roll from the lowerroll in the `same direction of rotation as the upper rolls, and means for adjusting the position of the hold-down roll relative to the lower roll.

9. A machine for crushing foreign particles in a woolen or like web, adapted to be positioned between a pair of carding machines for receiving the web from one carding machine and for delivering the web to the other carding machine, comprising a. supporting frame, a pair of upper crushing rolls rotatably carried by the supporting frame, a lower main crushing roll rotatably and slidably carried by the frame, means forcibly urging the lower crushing roll between and into engagement with the upper crushing rolls, the web being adapted to travel between the lower crushing roll and the upper crushing rolls, a conveyor for receiving the web from one carding machine and for conducting the web between the rolls, means for rotating the main crushing roll from the doffer roll of the last mentioned carding machine and at the same angular velocity as said doifer roll, a conveyor for conducting the web away from the crushing rolls and to the other carding machine, and means for operating the conveyors at the same rate of speed relative to one another from the main crushing roll.

RUDOLPH H. VON LIEDTKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number f- Number l" 3,713 70,419

Great Britain Oct. 9, 1941 

